About 200 students from Jianxin Middle School in the municipality of Chongqing stood outside a supermarket at 7:43 AM on Saturday in protest of their school holding extra classes on weekends.

More than 100 of them, who are from the school's graduating classes, decided to remain on the picket rather than going in once classes had started.

One student complained that the school had told them to be there by 8:30 AM and attend seven classes, meaning they would not finish until late in the afternoon. The students are also scheduled to complete another half day on Sundays.

On October 15, the Jiangbei District Education Committee, where the school is located, banned schools from having extra classes. But parental pressure has forced the school to continue, said Duan Zhibin, the school's headmaster.

Some parents employ private tutors, but those who cannot afford their fees are left worrying that their children will lag behind their classmates.

While the students are unwilling to take extra classes, negotiations between teachers, the headmaster and parents have failed to resolve the issue.

(Eastday.com November 1, 2004)